Specialized 2014 Mountain Bikes and Gear Preview

SWAT

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The folks at the Big S recently had what you might call a light-bulb moment. While walking around race venues, they noted what they considered an appalling trend: racers using tape to attach spare tubes, gels, and CO2 cartridges to bikes that cost more than $10,000. Instead of reprimanding the athletes, the engineers took it as a cry for help. “These racers need to carry water and tools and to go fast,” says mountain bike product marketer Sam Benedict. “All these taped up bikes were sending us a message that athletes need these things in these places.” SWAT—Storage, Water, Air and Tools—technology was created to help mountain bikers and triathletes more elegantly carry their essentials.

On the mountain side, Specialized debuted the MTB XC Kit: A fully integrated repair kit that includes a frame-mounted storage box that holds a 29” inner tube, CO2 inflator and cartridge, and a tire lever, with room for other essentials; two Zee bottle cages; a chain tool that fits in the fork’s pre-load cap; and the EMT Cage Mount Tool, a multitool that can mount in a slot on the bottom of the top tube on the Epic 29er, or on a bottle cage on other bikes.

You can also add many SWAT accessories to your bike aftermarket. The Top Cap works on all Specialized bikes, as does the bottle cage Starter Kit. There’s even SWAT apparel. The SWAT Bib Liner has pockets that can hold a water bottle, food, tools, air, and other cargo against your body, eliminating the need to use a pack.